One for autumn evenings sitting by the fire with a glass of red wine. ‘Wave’ delivers whispered intimacy over minimal arrangements, chiefly Cure and her guitar though there are others involved, what they contribute is breathy or drifting, gliding key fills on ‘Spring Sleep’ for example, none of it is intrusive. Zoe’s gentle guitar picking bouys her Franscoise Hardyish vocal which never gets too emotional even when the subject matter of her songs swings towards something more serious than contemplation, ‘Try Not To Love You’ could be a raging put down in some hands, a relationship fractured but still bittersweet, here though it’s a drop dead gorgeous piece of reflection and regret for what might have been.
Originally from Warwickshire but now based in Yorkshire, her writing’s been honed over a number of years and this is her first full length release following on from an EP in 2022. No less than Martin Carthy – whilst stylistically different in every way from her – described her voice as “amazing.” The whole is a three way production between artist and Laura Kindelan/ Lily Sturt Bolshaw which hangs together, nothing disturbs the calm veneer, there may be ripples but no more. “I will grow old and wise” she breathily informs on ‘As Sure As The Sun’ the closing number which looks forward with hushed anticipation. That track for this writer held echoes of Vashti Bunyan and Laura Nyro but I doubt Zoe Cure counts those amongst her influences.
‘Wave’ isn’t goodbye it’s hello to a new voice who here balances emotions, moods and experiences to produce an enticing debut which should bring her far more attention from lovers of alt folk and music for quiet corners of meditation.
Simon Jones.
www.zoecuremusic.com
